WITH THE new university year looming, students are one again faced with a myriad of financial burdens. This is the result of a concerted attack by today’s government on our education system, which has seen the introduction of top-up fees, low pay for lecturers and privatisation of canteens and other services.

Education is about the acquisition of knowledge, development of skills, talents etc. All of these things are undoubtedly of huge benefit to society. However, instead of those in education being encouraged to maximise their potential, many have sought to simply turn the whole system into another profit-making machine!

Students are forced by their situation to take out loans to cover their cost of living during term-time. These loans mean that students leave college, not with a positive foundation on which to start their working lives, but rather with thousands of pounds of debt hanging over them.

These debts will be dramatically increased this year with the introduction of top up fees of up to £3,070 per year for each course. Add to this the huge rents which students are forced to pay, and it is no surprise that one third of all students are living on less than £40 a week.

The effect of all these monetary pressures on students has led to more and more working class people avoiding third-level education, out of fear of debt. This is shown by the fact that, this year, applications to university fell for the first time in six years. Once again our universities are being turned into elite clubs for the rich.

We call for free education for all as a right, not as an institution whose existence and quality depends on its profit-making ability. This means providing a living grant for all, the scrapping of tuition fees, the abolition of student debts, affordable accommodation etc.

However, these reforms will not merely be handed over by a government hell-bent on privatisation and the pursuit of a neo-liberal agenda. That is why we must take it from them! To do this we must establish and organise socialist societies within every university to agitate for change.

Also, Students’ Unions must be transformed into democratic, accountable organisations, whose main task is to fight for change and defend the real interests of their members. These Unions must join forces with other unions involved in education in order to effectively combat the onslaught against our education system and our public services as a whole.

Socialist Societies either exist or are being formed in Queens University, Coleraine, Jordanstown & Magee. For details of activities on your campus watch out for posters or else ring Daniel on 07821058319